Sumbarine boat and cutting means therefor



Oct. 24, 1933. R. c. SIMPSON El AL 1,931,772

' SUBMARINE BOAT AND CUTTING MEANS THEREFOR Filed Feb. 1, 1932 5 Sheets-Sheet l Robe/ f C 51772 05012 63mm? I faiqar' 2 mm,

0d. 24, 193.3. Q SIMPSON r AL 1,931,772

SUBMARINE BOAT AND CUTTING MEANS THEREFOR Oct. 24, 1933. R Q SIMPSON ET AL 1,931,772

SUBMARINE BOAT AND CUTTING. MEANS THEREFOR Filed Feb. 1, 1932 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 J6 P 41 asiaz [721/8/270'f15. jfobafi" 6 Jig/2 05M Gra /22* Z Idyar anon Ma flomvmilmgg zgj Oct. 24, 1933. Q SIMPSON ET AL 1,931,772

SUBMARINE BOAT AND CUTTING MEANS THEREFOR Filed Feb. 1,1952 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Oct. 24, 1933. R. c. SIMPSON ET AL 1,931,772

SUBHARINE BOAT AND CUTTING MEANS THEREFOR File Feb. 1, 1952 5 Sheets-Sheet s I W YMI l atented Get. 24, 1933 warren "sTAT s SUBMARINE BOAT AND CUTTING MEANS THEREFOR Robert 0. Simpson and Grant E. Edgar, New London, Conn, assignors to Electric Boat Company, Groton, C0nn., a corporation of New Jersey Application February 1,

'10 I Claims.

This invention relates to submarine boats,

and has to do more particularly with cutting means appliedto a submarine vessel to enable such vessel to enter harbors and waterways protected by mine fields or wire net entanglements.

It is known, in marine warfare, to protect harbors and waterways by mine fields or wire net entanglements. The mines usually employed for this purpose are of the contact type and comprise a drum carrying an explosive and means for firing the charge when the mine contacts another object, such as a submarine vessel. The mine is attached to an anchor by a wire cable approximately one-fourth of an inch in diameter and of high tensile steel. The mine has positive buoyancy and is usually held some feet below the surface of the water by the anchor and cable.

The wire net entanglements referred to usually comprise a network of wire cables supported by buoys, strong and heavy cables being arranged parallel to the surface of the water, one below another and held in this position by means of smaller vertical cables.

Several means have been used to enable a submarine vessel to pass through mine fields and wire net entanglements, the most prominent of which consists in equipping the submarine vessel, at its forward end, with a sawtooth arrangement like fins protruding from the side of the vessel, whereby the vessel by its force of impact breaks the wire mooring cables or entanglement. This means has proved to be ineffective, as it frequently happened in the case of contact with a mine cable that the cable.

did not break, and as the mine had but little buoyancy it was dragged down on top of the vessel and caused its destruction.

Another means for enabling a submarine vessel to pass through mine fields and Wire net tact with a mine cable or a cable of an entangle- I ment, are short circuited causing an electric are which destroys the cable, thus releasing the mine or providing an opening through a net entanglement. This apparatus is efiicient, provided the cables of the 'mines or of the wire net entanglement are not insulated. However, if the cables be insulated, no short circuit between the electrodes occurs, so that the apparatus is of no assistance in severing mine cables or the 1932. Serial No. 590,080

cables of wire net, entanglements which are coated with electrical insulating material.

One of the main objects of our invention is to provide a submarine boat having associated therewith cutting apparatus which will positively cut or destroy any cable or entanglement encountered by such vessel, irrespective of the type of cable employed, whether insulated or uninsulated. A further object is to: provide positively acting cutting mechanism and'means for operating the same from within the hull of the vessel, such mechanism being adjustable from within the hull into operative position and inoperative position. A further object is to provide mechanisms of the character stated. which, when in inoperative position, are stowed within the outline of thehull and offer minimum resistance to passage of the vessel through the water. Further objects and advantages of our invention will appear from the detail description.

In the drawings:-

Figure 1 is a perspective side view of the for--v ward portion of a submarine boat with cutting meansapplied thereto in accordance with our invention and showing the cutting mechanisms in operative position;

Figure 2 is a section taken substantially on" line 2-- 2 of Figure 1 on an enlarged scale;

Figure 3 is a section taken substantially on line 3-3 of Figure 2 on an'enlarged scale;

Figure 4 is a section taken substantiallyon line 4-4 of Figurez; I

Figure 5 is an elevation of one of the cutting mechanisms and'the pocket for receiving the same and associated parts, parts being broken away and in section; I

Figure 6 is a fragmentary plan View, on an enlarged scale, of one of the cutting mech-' anisms;

Figure '7 is a front view of the cutting mech anism of Figure 6;

Figure 8 is a section taken substantially on line 88 of Figure 7; t

Figure 9 is a fragmentary plan view of the upper cutter bar;

Figure 10 is a fragmentary plan View of the lower cutter bar; I Y

Figure 11' isv an enlarged detail of a modified form of cutting mechanism in which both of the cutter bars are reciprocated, and associated parts, parts being shown in section;

FigurelZ is a detail of the ,means for operating the cutter bars of the cutting mechanism of the modified form of Figure 11;

, tending lengthwise Figure 13 is a perspective side view of the bow portion of a submarine boat illustrating a modification of our invention in which the cutting mechanisms are disposed to project above and beneath the hull, when in operative position.

In Figure l of the drawings we have illustrated our invention as applied to a submarine boat B which is, in general, of known construction and comprises hull 1 and superstructure 2. This boat may be of either single null or double hull construction, as preferred, that illustrated by way of example being of single hull type. The hull 1 is provided, at each side thereof, with an inset portion defining a pocket3 which projects inwardly of a compartment 4- within the hull. The forward portion of pocket 3 flares upwardly at 3a to accommodate two pedestals 5 which are suitably secured to the top and the bottom walls of the pocket and are disposed coaxialiy. These pedestals carry trunnions 6 which extend through bearing bushings 7 suitably mounted in the arms of a fork 8 at the forward or inboard end of a cutting mechanism 9 exterior of the hull. The cutting 1 echanisin is thus pivoted at its inboard end so as to be positionable substantially perpendicular to hull l, as in Figure 1, when in operative position, the cutting mechanism. also being positionable so as to be disposed substantiallyparallel to the hull and within the pocket 3, when in inoperative position, as indicated in Figure 2.

Referring more particularly to Figures 6 to 10, inclusive, the cutting mechanism comprises a finger bar consisting of an upper member 19 a lower member 11, the opposed faces of which are flat and in contact, these memc rs being suitably secured together, as by means of rivets 12. Member 10 is provided with a down-- wardly projecting rib 13 extending lengthwise of such member and fitting snugly into a corresponding recess 14 in the upper face of morn-- ber l1,'this rib and the walls of the recess cooperating to hold the members 18 and 11 proper alignment. Member 11 is further provided, in its upper face, with a channel 15 exthereof and in. register with a similar channel 16 formed in the under face of member 10. A lower cutter bar 17 is slidably mounted in channel 15 and extends upwardly into 'channe '16, and an upper cutter bar 18 is fixedly mounted in channel 16, at the top thereof, being secured to member 10 in a suitable manner, as by means of screws 19. Each of the members lO'and 11 is provided with a plurality of spaced and forwardly proiecting fingers 20, these fingers tapering forwardly both in width and in hei ht, the cutter bar being of ovoidal cross-section through the fingers 20, as shown in Figure 8. Constructed in this manner, the outer surface of the cutter bar is of smooth and rounded contour and is free of all projections suchas would be apt to become entangled in anchoring cables mines, the cables of wire entanglements, or other obstructions of like nature.

As will be noted more clearly from Figures 6 and 7, the spaces 21 between the adjacent igers 20 of the upper member 10 of the finger bar are of appreciably less width than the spaces '22 between the fingers 20 of the lower member 11, it being noted that the under faces of the fingers of member 10 are cut away to provide recesses 23 corresponding in width to spaces 22, these recesess extending from the lower end of the space 21. The upper cutter bar 181s provided, at its forward edge, with notches 24 corresponding in width to, and disposed in register with, spaces 21 at the lower ends thereo 1 lower cutter bar 17 is provided, at its forward edge, with notches 25, the end walls of which are oppositely inclined and diverge rearwardly. The end walls of the notches 25 are also inclined upwardly and inwardly at 26, thus providing cutting edges 27 at each end of the respective notches 25 so as to provide, in effect, a pair of shear blades for each notch, these blades being oppositely related.

The cutter bar 1'? is reciprocated in a suitable manner. In the particular embodiment of our invention illustrated by way of example, and as shown more clearly in Figures 2, 3 and a, an operating rod 28 is pivoted at its outer end, at 29, to the inner end of cutter bar 17. This rod 28 is mounted for reciprocation in a suitable stuffing'box and bearing structure 29a, secured, in a suitable manner, to the inner face of the back or inner wall of pocket 3. Rod 28 thus projects through the hull for operating the cutter bar of the cutting mechanism. A drive shaft'SO is rotatably mounted in a suitable bracket 31 within compartment 4. A disc 32 is secured upon the upper end of this shaft and carries an eccentrically disposed crank pin 33 which passes through the inner ends of connectingrods 34 and Bed which are pivoted at their outer ends, at 35, to operating rods 28. Rod 34a is provided, at its inner end, with a fork 341) which accommodates the inner end of rod 34, pin 33 passing through both arms of this ith the cutting mechanisms in projected or operative position, as in Figure 2, when the shaft 39 is rotated the cutter bars 17 are reciprocated simultaneously and in opposite relation.

Shaft 30 is driven, through suitable gear'ig 36, by an electric motor 3? of suitable type. A comparatively heavy fly-wheel 38 is secured upon shaft 39 of the motor, the inertia of this wheel serving to drive the parts connected thereto during the cutting operation, the power developed by the motor being sufficier. to set the mechanisms into operation and overcome friction of the movable parts. In order that the cutting mechanism may be moved into the pockets 3 without binding of parts, it is desirable that the pivotal connection 29 between the respective cutter bars 17 and operating rods 28, be posttioncd coairially with trunnions 6. In order to accomplish the shaft 3 3 may be provided with a suitable mark 49 which in regi ter with an indexpoint 41 secured to bracket 31, when the pivots 29 disposed coaxially with the trunnions A hand wheel 42 is secured upon the lower end of motor shaft 39 and provides, in conjunction with the gearing 36, convenient means for turning the shaft 33 into desired position.

A screw shaft i3 is rotatably mounted in bear-v ing members 44 and 43a disposed ineach of the pockets 3, this shaft being held against endwise movement in. a suitable manner and extending lengthwise of the pockets. A bevel gear 45 is secured upon the forward end of shaft 43 and meshes with a bevel gear 46 secured on the outer end of a shaft l'lextending transversely of compartment 4. This shaft projects through the hull, and is rotatably mounted in stufiing box and bearing structure 48 suitably secured to. the inner face of the inner wall of the respective pockets 3. Ablock 49 is mounted upon each of the shafts 43 and has threaded engagement therewith. Since the shafts 43 are rotated in opposite relation, they are oppositely threaded and the blocks i9 are mounted upon the shafts for travel therealong simultaneously and in similardirections. A link 50 is pivoted to block 49 at its inboard end, at 51, the outboard end of this link being pivoted to the cutting mechanism at 52. By rotating the shafts 43 in one direction, the blocks 49 are moved.

forwardly along theshafts so as to swing the cutting mechanisms about the trunnions 6 into position so as to project outwardly beyond the sides of the hull. With the blocks 49 in their most forward position, the cutting mechanisms are disposed substantially radially of, or perpendicular to, the hull, as in Figure 2. These mechanisms may be disposed in any intermediate position desired, and are positively locked in adjustment by means of the screw shafts 43 and the blocks 49 and links 50 cooperating therewith. By rotating shafts 43 in proper direction, the blocks 49 may be moved into their most rearward position so as to dispose the cutting mechanisms within the pockets 3, as indicated in Figure 2, in which position such mechanisms are effectively locked by the screw shafts and blocks and associated parts. Preferably, though not necessarily, we provide baffie plates 53 which are secured to the after walls of pockets 3 and are inclined forwardly and inwardly. These plates serve as deflectors for the water and act to reduce to a minimum the resistance to passage of the boat through the water offered by pockets 3 and associated parts.

The shaft 47 may be rotated in any suitable or preferred manner. In the particular embodiment of our invention illustrated, we have shown an adjusting shaft 54 rotatably mounted in a bracket 55 within the compartment 4. A hand wheel 56 is secured upon the lower end of shaft 54 for manually rotating the latter. A bevel gear 57 is secured upon the upper end of shaft 54 and meshes with a bevelgear 58 suitably secured upon shaft 47. This provides simple and convenient means for rotating shaft 4'7 in desired direction for moving the cutting mechanism into operative and inoperative positions.

Normally, the cutting mechanisms are disposed in inoperative'position, within the pockets 3. When the boat approaches an area in which mines or entanglements are apt to be encountered, the cutting mechanisms are moved outwardly into operative position and the cutter bars of such mechanisms are then reciprocated in the manner previously described. If either of the finger bars encounters a cable, such as the cable 60 of Figure '7, which may be considered as representing the cable of either a mine anchoring means or of an entanglement, this cable is guided by the fingers 20 into one of the notchesor spaces 21 and is out by means of the movable cutter barl'l, as indicated in Figure 7. We thus provide positively acting cutting mechanisms exterior of the hull, but operated from within the hull, these mechanisms being movable, from within the hull, into operative and inoperative positions. The cutting mechanisms remain in continuous operation so longas the boat is in a zone where mines or entanglements are apt to be encountered, and serve eifectively to cut any cables or other obstructions of like nature into proximity with which the boat may come. We thus provide highly efficient means which enables a submarine boatto pass safely through mine fields or. wire net entanglements, or other obstructions of similar nature.

In the modified form of our invention illustrated in Figures 11 and 12, both of the cutter bars 17 and 18 are reciprocated and in opposite relation. A tubular operating rod 61 is slidable through the stufi'ing box and bearing structure 29a and carries, at its outer end, a head 62 suitably secured upon the rod. This head is provided with a finger 63 which is pivoted at its outer end, at 64, to the inboard end of cutter bar 18. An operating rod' 65 is slidably mounted in rod 61 and is provided, at its outer end, with a head 66 suitably secured thereon. A finger 67 projects from the head 66 and'is pivotally secured, at its outer end, at 68, to cutter bar 17. Rod 61 is mounted, adjacent its inner end, through a suitable bearing member 69. A collar 70 is suitably secured on the inner end of rod- 61 and is connected by a link 71 to one wrist pin of a double crank structure 72 carried by a shaft 30a rotatably mounted in suitable bearings 73, this shaft being driven in any suitable manner, as by the electric motor and associated gearing of Figure 4. Collar 70 at the inner end of the other tubular rod 61 is connected to the wrist pin of the crank by a link 71a, the inner end of which is forked to accommodate the inner end of link '71. A collar 74 issuitably secured upon the inner end' of each of the rods 65, one of these collars being connected by a link '75 to the other wrist pin of the double crank 72. Collar 74 of the other rod 65 is connected by a link 75a to the same wrist pin of the crank structure as link 75, link 75a having a fork at its inner end which accommodates the inner end of link 75. Each of the collars 70 is interiorly threaded for reception of a packing nut 76 between which and the inner end of rod 61 a suitable packing material 77 is disposed. The opposed surfaces of the nut 76 and the inner end of rod 61 are shaped to direct the packing material into contact with rod 65, in a known manner, so as to provide a fluid tight packing about the latter. This provides a seal about each of the rods 65 which eliminates possibility of leakage of-water between the rods 61 and 65 and into compartment 4.

In the modified form of our invention illustrated in Figure 13, we have shown the cutting mechanism as disposed, when projected, to extend below the hull and above the superstructure. Our invention comprehends disposing the cutting mechanisms in any suitable or preferred manner.

As above indicated, and as will be understood by those skilled in the art, changes in construction and arrangements of parts of our invention may be resorted to, without departing from the field and scope of the same, and we intend to include all such variations, as fall within the scope of the appended claims, in this application in which the preferred forms only of our invention are disclosed.

We claim:

1. In combination in a submarine boat, cutting mechanisms at opposite sides of the hull each including a finger bar and a cutter bar mounted for reciprocation relative to said finger bar, each of the respective finger bars being pivoted at its inboard end to the hull, screw shafts at the sides of the hull, screw blocks engaging the shafts, links connecting the blocks and the respective finger bars for adjusting the latter, means for rotating the shafts in desired direction from within the hull, and means for operating the cutting mechanisms from within the hull.

2. In combination in a submarine boat comprising a hull having depressions forming outwardly opening pockets at opposite sidesof the huil, cutting mechanisms pivotally mounted at their inboard ends within the pockets and ad justable about their pivots into operative and inoperative positions, said mechanisms projecting outwardly beyond the hull when in operative position and being disposed within the pockets when in inoperative position, a pair of screw shafts, screw blocks engaging said shafts, linkage connections between the blocks and the cutting mechanisms for adjusting the latter, means for rotating the shafts in desired direction from within the hull, and means for operating said mechanisms from within the hull.

3. In combination in a submarine boat comprising a hull having depressions forming outwardly opening pockets at opposite sides of the hull, cutting mechanisms pivotaily mounted at their inboard ends within the pockets and adjustable about the pivots into operative and inoperative positions, said mechanisms projecting outwardly beyond the hull when in operative position and being disposed within the pockets when in inoperative position, screw shafts mounted in the pockets, screw blocks engaging said shafts, links connecting the blocks and the cutting mechanisms for adjusting the latter, means for rotating the shafts in desired direction from within the hull, and means for operating said mechanisms from within the hull.

i. In combination in a submarine boat, cutting mechanism comprising a finger bar pivoted at its inboard end to the hull and a reciprocating cutter bar, a rod slidable through the hull and pivoted at its outboard end to the inboard end of the cutter bar in the plane of the pivot of said finger bar and exteriorly of the hull, means for adjusting the finger bar on its pivot, and means for reciprocating said rod from within the hull.

5. In combination in a submarine boat, cutting mechanism comprising a finger bar pivoted at its inboard end to the hull and a reciprocating cutter bar, a rod extending through the hull and permanently pivoted at its outboard end to the inboard end of the cutter bar, means guiding the rod and forming a water tight and pressure resistant closure thereabout and with the hull, means for adjusting the finger bar on its pivot, and means for reciprocating said rod from within the hull.

6. In combination in a submarine boat, cutting mechanism comprising a finger bar pivoted at its inboard end to the hull and a reciprocating cutter bar, a rod extending through the hull and having permanent operating connection at its outboard end to the cutter bar, means forming a water tight and pressure resistant closure about the rod and with the hull, means for adjusting the finger bar on its pivot from within the hull, and means for operating said rod from within the hull.

'7. In combination in a submarine boat comprising a hull having a depression forming an outwardly opening pocket, cutting mechanism pivoted at its inboard end in the pocket, said mechanism projecting beyond the hull when in operative position and being disposed within the pocket when in inoperative position, means for adjusting the cutting mechanism about it pivot into operative and inoperative positions from within the hull, and means extending through the hull and having permanent operating connection to the cutting mechanism for operating the latter from within the hull.

8. In combination in a submarine boat, cutting mechanism pivoted at its inboard end to the hull, said mechanism extending substantially perpendicular to the hull when in operative position and substantially parallel to' the hull when in inoperative position, means for adjusting the cutting mechanism about its pivot into operative and inoperative positions from Within the hull, and means extending through the hull and having permanent operating connection to the cutting mechanism for operating the latter from within the hull.

9. In combination in a submarine boat comprising a hull having a depression forming an outwardly opening pocket disposed within the outline of the hull, a cutting mechanism pivotaliy mounted at its inboard end Within the pocket, means within the pocket for adjusting the cutting mechanism on its pivot, said mechanism projecting outward beyond the hull when in operative position and being disposed within the pocket when in inoperative position, a shaft extending through the hull and having operatconnection to the adjusting means, means rotatably supporting the shaft and forming a water-tight and pressure resistant closure there about and with the hull, an operating rod extending through the hull and having operating connection to the cutting mechanism, and means forming a water-tight and pressure resistant closure about the rod and with the hull.

10. In combination in a submarine boat comprising a hull having a depression forming an outwardly opening pocket, a cutting mechanism pivotaily mounted at its inboard end within the pocket, means within the pocket for adjusting the cutting mechanism on its pivot, said mechanism projecting outward beyond the hull when in operative position and being disposed within the pocket when in inoperative position, a shaft extending through the, hull and having operating,

ROBERT C. SIMPSON. GRANT E. EDGAR. 

